Vent for electric battery cells



D@ 15; 1931. N, K, QHANEY A1,836,903 f VENT FOR ELECTRIC BATTERY CELLS Filed July 25l 1927 ME74L CAP W/TH VENT ff PART/ALM y /MPREGNA TED /PERMEA @LE CA RBON :ff EL Ec TRODE PERMEABLE WATER-REPELLANT GAS COLLECTOR INVENTOR:

' BY f ATTORNEYS.

Patented 15, 1931 NEWCOIB K. CHANEY, F LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 rANY, INC., A conroaarronor Naw Yonx VENT FOR ELECTRIC BATTERY CELLS Application illed July 23,

The invention relates to electric battery cells of the type enclosed in a waterproof envelope, and it consists in a cell construction .which provides a vent of regulated capacity y serving to void the gases liberated within the envelope.

By far the most common cell of the type to which the invention relates is the so-called dry cell, which is so encased as to prevent evaporation of its water content and to prevent eliluxof liquid regardless of the posi-l tion in which the cell is placed. For purposes of illustration the invention will be described as applied to dry cells.

In dry cells of usual construction the envelope ofthe cell consists principally of the anode of the cell, which is a zinc cup. One end of the cup is closed by a plastic seal,

ractically impervious to gases, and the carbon electrode or cathode projects through this seal, the protruding end often being covered by a metal cap having its edge embedded in the seal. Y The voiding of gases from such a cell does not take place in a. wholly satisfactory manner, and it is more the result of accident than design that a tolerable venting is attained.

With the construction just described the joint between the seal and the zinc cup. The primary object of this seal is to maintain'the seal and attached parts in proper relation to the zinccup, and there can be no modification of the joint for venting purposes plastic seal is made softer it will bulge under the inuence of excessive pressures within the cell, and if it is made more rigid it will under the same conditionsv be ejected bodily .from the `zinc, cup. f Making the joint eithercloser or looserl aggravates the dillculty since the one expedient diminishes the venting and increases the'gas pressure withinv the cell f gases escape for the most part through the which .will endanger this function. If the 1927. Serial No. 207,955.

acter to minimize these two undesirable ell'ects. l,

I have discovered that venting maybe better controlled and is more` adequateand effective if it takes place through the carbon electrode. 4

The carbon rods now ein loyed as electrodes in dry batteries are suciently porous for venting purposes, but require special treatment to enable them to maintain their 60 permeability when inl contact with the electrolyte. The carbons have no specic retentivit 'for moisture, but take u moisture by capi lary attra'ction, The sma lest capillaries attract water most strongly and are least useful for ventin and it is therefore' desirable lto fill them y an impregnating operation. The impregnation must not be complete or the permeability of the carbons will be destroyed. Partial impregnation may j be conveniently effected by saturating the carbons with a solution of non-volatile impregnating agent, such as lubricatin yoil, in'

a volatile solvent, such as carbon tetrac loride or naphtha, and then evaporating the solvent. By varying the composition of thesolution, the permeability of the treated carbons may be controlled, the carbons vb eing in any event rendered waterlrepellent By way of ex- A ample mention a mixture containing 10% so of medium .viscosity lubricating oil with the balance volatile solvent. f

. I have also discovered that ventingfmay.` be improved if the carbon electrode vent is used in conjunction with a permeable watertes repellent gas collector within the cell and in proximity to the carbon. The -collector offers a low resistance path for gases liberated or collecting at points remotefrom the caibon b ut contiguous to the collector, and con- 9o l ducts ,thesel gases to the carbon. The eoll lector should be water-repellent in `order to maintain its permeabilit A disc of partially im board in the bottom of the ce end ofthe carbon forms a simple and eecp' tive'gas collector. It. may b preparedby' the method describedfor'partially impregnat ing-thel carbons Another method vwlnchvl have found satisfactory istovfullyiimpregf regnated pulp nearthe lower '95 nate a number of discs with Aparaiine or the like, stack them alternately with unim regnated discs, and then heat the stack until the impregnating agent distributes itself more 5 or less uniformly among all the discs. The

gas collecting disc may be placed in the bottom of the cup. If the bottom of the cu is otherwise lined the as collector is pre erably placed on top 0I the other lining so l0 that 1t may better coact with the carbon electrode.

Dry cells, es ecially those of the smaller sizes used in protruding ends of their carbon electrodes covered by metal caps embedded in the seal. Obviously such a cap would interfere if the carbon is used for venting, and the cap Should be perforated `to permit gases-to pass through it.

i0 In perforating the cap, a tongue of the metal may be struck up from the upper surface of the cap in such manner that it will ashlights, usually have the in the envelope, and a perforated metal cap enclosin the portion of the cathode outside the enve ope.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

NEWCOMB K. CHANEY.

serve to make contact with the zinc of the next cell when several cells are axially alined. i6 Such a contact is described and claimed in the patent to Jones No. 1,596,188, issued August 17, 1926. A perforation equally useful for venting purposes can of course be located in the side of the metal cap. l0 With an independent venting system s0 effective and controllable as that described, it is evident that'the joints between the plastic seal and its areas of contact with other cell parts may be relieved entirely of their I5 venting function, and confined to those of remaimng permanent in tightness and in mechanical strength and position. This widens very advantageously the scope of available sealing materials, and permits the selection of 40 sealing compounds of a greatly increased degree of suitability for their restricted functions. The overall eiect of they combination of independent. venting and sealing systems is to permit ofa nice adjustment of the degree of venting to practical requirements with a minimum of that excess which results in impair-,ment of cell eiciency through moisture loss and other effects. l The accompanying drawing with its legend I0 shows an embodiment of the invention..

I claim: v p 1. An electric battery cell having an envelope', a cathode serving also to void gases from said envelope, and a disc of gas-permeable fibrous material partially impregnated with a water-repellent material Within the' envelope to convey gases toward said cathode.

2. An electric battery cell having an env velope forming a gas-tightseal, a cathode l0 projecting through said envelope and serving to void gases therefrom, and a erforated metal ca enclosing the portion of t e cathode outside t e envelope.v

3. electricbattery celldhaving an en A 5 velope, a cathode projecting through saiden- 

